Legally, Paterno did the right thing by telling his athletic director about the alleged incident.

But he didn't tell the police. He didn't ask the university to follow up. And he allowed Sandusky to hang around the program and have access to PSU football facilities for nearly a decade after he was told about the alleged crime.

This makes the scandals that took down Ohio State, USC, and Miami look like nothing.

Paterno could be fired. Or he could be allowed to bow out with his dignity after the season.

But given the level of anger among alumni and the sickening nature of the allegations, he's finished.

And no matter how he exits, his legacy and the program he leaves behind will be stained for years to come.